Closure device



Dec- 15, 1925' A. c. SPALDING CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1923 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

ALBE CARLTON SPALDING, OF FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA.

CLOSURE DEVICE.

Application filed January 11, 1923. Serial No. 612,029.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBE O. SPALDING,

closure devices for tanks, tubes and the,

like,one object of the invention being to provide a simple closure device which shall be operable normally to tightly close the end or opening of a tube or tank, and which may be easily operated to open the inlet of the tank or tube without detaching any part of the device from the same.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view with the device in closed position, and

Figure 4 is a plan view with the device in open position.

My improvements are well adapted for use as a closure for the water inlet tube of an automobile radiator, and the fragmental tubular member 1 shown in the drawing may be assumed to be such a tube. The tube 1 is threaded exteriorly to receive the internal threads of a ring or sleeve 2 mounted on said tube. In order to prevent removalof the sleeve 2 from the tube and yet permit it to be turned a limited distance in one direction or another for a purpose hereinafter described, the said sleeve is made with an internal annular recess 3 to receive a flaring upper end portion 40 of the tube 1.

The ring or sleeve 2 is provided with diametrically opposite enlargements 4 and 5 and diametrically opposite lever arms or handles 6. The enlargement 4 is provided with a slot or recess 7 which receives an arm 8 projecting from a cap 9, which latter normally closes the upper end of the tube 1. A pivot pin 10 passes through the enlargement 4 and through the arm 8 and serves to pivotally connect the cap or closure to the rin or sleeve,the lower end portion of said pin being threaded as at 11 to enter a threaded opening in the ring or sleeve. The upper end of the pin may be made with a head 12 countersunk into the enlargement 4 and the lower threaded end of said pin may be cut off so as to be flush with the under face of the ring or sleeve.

The enlargement 5 is made with a slot or recess 13 and the cap or closure 9 is provided with an arm or lug 14 which enters said slot or recesswhen the cap or closure 9* is in position to close the end of the tube 1 as shown in Figure 1.

The depth of each slot or recess 7 and 13 p is slightly greater than the thickness of the respective arms 8 and 14 so that the cap or closure has a lost-motion connection with the ring or sleeve 2.

It will be observed that when the cap or closure is seated on the end of the tube 1 and the ring or sleeve is screwed down on said tube, the upper portions of the enlargements 4 and 5 will be caused to press downwardly on the arms 8 and 14 of the cap or closure 9 and the latter will thus be clamped tightly on the end of the tube 1. By unscrewing the ring or sleeve 2 slightly, the

clamping action of the cap or closure will from the tube.

Various changes might be made in the details of my invention without departing from the spirit of the latter or limiting its scope and hence I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A closure for a tubular article comprising a sleeve adapted to fit upon the article and move longitudinally thereon, a cap permanently mounted upon the sleeve in position to extend across the article and movable laterally relative to the sleeve in a plane parallel with a diameter of the sleeve, and means carried by the sleeve to engage and positively clamp the cap at its edge upon the tubular article.

2. A closure for a tubular article comprising a sleeve to be fitted upon the article and move longitudinally of the same, means to prevent detachment of the sleeve from the article, a cap permanently mounted on the sleeve to extend across the end of the article and adapted to move laterally relative to the sleeve in a plane parallel With a diameter of the sleeve, and elements on the sleeve projecting over the cap whereby movement of the sleeve inwardly from. the end of the tubular article will positively clamp the cap to the article.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a sleeve capable of longitudinally movable connection With a tube, said sleeve having tWo recessed portions, and a closure having an arm loosely pivoted in one of said recessed portions and an arm to enter the other recessed portion of the sleeve.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a threaded sleeve having diametrically opposite recessed enlargements and provided With a handle, and a closure having diametrically opposite arms to enter said recessed enlargements, one 0i said arms having permanent pivotal connection with one of said recessed enlargements whereby said cap or closure may be swung laterally.

The combination With a threaded tube. of a sleeve threaded thereon and having two recesses, a cap or closure to seat on said tube, an arm projecting from said cap or closure and loosely entering one of said recesses, a pivot pin connecting said arm with the sleeve, and another arm on the cap or closure entering the other recess of the sleeve, each of the arms of the cap or closure having appreciably less thickness than the depth of the recess Which it enters.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ALBE CARLTON SPALDING. 

